419 scam: "Kofi Anthony" <kofianthony89@yahoo.com.hk> PRIVATE MESSAGE 23/9/2012

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kofi Anthony" <kofianthony89@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: kofianthony29@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 23:49:36 -0000
Subject: PRIVATE MESSAGE 23/9/2012

From: The Manager,
International Commercial Bank Ghana
First Light Branch Accra, Ghana.

Dearest One,

I got your contact during my search for a reliable, trust worthy and
honest person.

My name is Mr. Kofi Anthony. I am the manager of the International
Commercial Bank Ghana, First Light Branch Accra. I am a Ghanaian married
with two kids.

I am writing to solicit your assistance in the noble transfer of Two
Million Five hundred Thousand United States Dollars This fund is the
excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made as profit during
the year 2010 I have already submitted an approved End of the last Year
financial report for the last year 2011 to my Head Office here in Accra
and they will never know of this Excess.

I have since then, placed this amount of (Two Million Five hundred
Thousand United States Dollars) on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a
beneficiary.As an officer of the bank, I cannot be directly connected to
this money thus I am impelled to request for your assistance to receive
this money into your bank account. I intend to part 30% of this fund to
you while 70% shall be for me.

I do need to stress that there are practically no risk involved in this.
It is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer to your nominated bank account
anywhere you feel safer.All I need from you is to stand as the original
depositor of this fund.

If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response.

Also this matter should be a confidential between you and me and please
delete it if you are not interested.

Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.

With regards

Kofi Anthony.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam